Regarding the letter to the editor by Nolan Dean in the Wednesday edition (“Glenn Beck’s rally message contradictory”): As I read Dean’s letter I had to ask myself just what America is he talking about and where is he getting his misinformation?

Dean’s claims that “ever since Obama has taken office, the deficit has lowered, the economy is recovering and he has pulled us out of combat in Iraq.”

Wow! Every media outlet I see shows Obama increasing the budget deficit by $2.4 trillion over Bush’s budget deficit since taking office and unemployment continues to rise, indicating that the economy is not recovering.

Dean did have one correct statement in that Obama has pulled us out of a combat role in Iraq for now.

Dean also comments about Glenn Beck and his opposition to a mosque in New York being unconstitutional. Glenn Beck did not say he was opposed to a mosque in New York City (there are 100 mosques in New York). What Beck said was that he was personally opposed to a mosque near Ground Zero as he did not think it was appropriate and that the people promoting it appear to have suspicious motives and fundraising tactics.

Oh, and by the way, America was founded on Christian principles. Try reading the original writings of Founding Fathers like Benjamin Rush, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, etc.

Dean may not like our Christian heritage in America but he is indebted to Christianity and its influence in this country for the liberty and freedom that he enjoys.

– Rod Guyton

Torrance

Why all the fuss about bags?

I don’t understand all the fuss about changing from plastic to paper. Is it all about business? Economics? Both plastic or paper sacks have to be manufactured, so there is still employment. Whether plastic is bad for the environment or paper contributes to methane gases, and don’t forget the government involvement between state legislators and city officials.

Cutting trees, polluting the oceans, adding methane has been the talk for a long time now. I have a solution: Bring your own shopping bag!

It is no trouble once one is used to it. I have been carrying my bags in my car all the time and am always ready when I shop. Don Peyer (“Reusable bags carry risks,” Letters to the Editor Aug. 29) adds the E. coli scare to personal shopping bags. It seems an endless problem.

I grew up in Germany and “einkaufstaschen” (shopping bags) were the custom, especially during World War II where everything was a premium. I’ll never forget, as a tourist once, I traveled to a country where, if one did not have their own shopping bag, one had to carry their purchases home by hand! And the fish market had the same policy!

In reality, Israel, through its ongoing humanitarian corridor, which the United Nations and Red Cross also use, has sent over a million tons of perishable and food staples such as baby food, dairy, wheat, rice, sugar, fruit, poultry, fish, agricultural products and clothing to Gaza in the last 18 months alone. This has ensured no food shortage in Gaza, with hundreds of trucks weekly moving needed relief six days a week from Israel to Gaza. No Palestinian is denied medical care in Israel, and in 2009 alone, 10,544 patients left Gaza for medical treatment in Israel. Tons of supplies included wheelchairs and crutches for the disabled, baby monitors, feeding tubes, dental equipment and artificial limbs. Palestinians have exploited medical arrangements over 20 times for terrorist attacks.

In 2010, 275,000 tons of carefully monitored cement and 23 tons of iron were shipped to Gaza for building projects. Terrorists use cement for rocket castings. The United Nations says Israel supplies 70 percent of their electricity, and over 133 million liters of fuel entered Gaza from Israel over the last 18 months. Israel coordinates, with the United Nations, water purification and sanitation projects there. Israel is currently facilitating the transfer of 200,000 laptops for Gaza schoolchildren and recently transferred summer camp equipment such as ice cream machines, musical instruments, swimming pools, inflatable toys and sports equipment to them. In Gaza, 81 percent of households have access to a cell phone, and 71 percent have a TV and radio.

The only ones using the Palestinians as pawns are their terrorist Hamas leaders and surrounding Arab states who provide no support to them and whose only goal is the elimination of Israel.